People from Chin state are forced into labour by the local authorities in the western part of Myanmar .

In the second capital of Chin state Matupi, the Town Peace and Development Council (TPDC) force civilians to clean up tea plantation areas every day.

In the month of October, the authorities had forced the people from Matupi Township to clean up the state-owned 70 acres of tea plantations, block by block. There are a total of four blocks and those who cannot work in the plantations had to pay money as a fine. 

"People from each block had to work three days in a week. If they did not they had to pay Kyat. 3000, as a fine," sources said.

People in the four blocks--- Lawngvan, Ngala, Khoboi and Cangbawng of Matupi township work for the state-owned tea plantations everyday. 

The authorities in Chin state did not force people into hard labour before the May 10 Referendum. But after the Referendum was through, they started forcing the civilians to work.

"The people are very discouraged, if they do not work they have to find money for the fine so they are going every day to work," a local said. 

The TPDC authorities are also forcing people to work for them in other parts of Chin state.